Welcome to Episode 53 of the Back to Human Podcast
In this episode, I had the honor of sitting down with Dr. Zev Mellman, a chiropractor based in South Florida who brings a radically holistic and human-centered approach to healing. Dr. Zev works with everyone from elite athletes and music artists to members of the general population—including underserved communities and even the homeless. His mission is simple: restore function, reduce suffering, and make quality care accessible to all.

We dive deep into the philosophy, science, and controversies behind chiropractic care, and explore why Zev believes this work is about far more than just cracking backs.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How Zev first discovered chiropractic and what drew him to this path

• The history of chiropractic—and how the Flexner Report nearly wiped it out

• What actually happens physiologically during an adjustment

• Why people return for care even when it "works" the first time

• Why chiropractic hasn’t been fully adopted by Western medicine despite its results

• Whether Zev has ever regretted an adjustment or unintentionally caused harm

• The difference between spinal adjustments and soft tissue/fascial work

• Why self-adjusting can do more harm than good

• How modern medicine often suppresses symptoms rather than resolving root issues

• Vitalism vs. Mechanism — the fundamental worldview shift between chiropractic and conventional medicine

• How research like the Manga Report highlights chiropractic's superiority for certain conditions

• The connection between posture, mood, stress hormones, and performance

• How spinal adjustments have both localized and systemic effects

• Why Zev adjusts barefoot—and what it says about his connection to the healing process

• Allostasis, allodynia, and the body’s burden of chronic stress

• The spine as a sensory organ—and how it constantly communicates with the brain

• Why chiropractic may help with emotional regulation, neurological resilience, and overall well-being—not just back pain

• How Zev responds to criticism and handles being labeled a “quack”

• The impact of diet, emotions, and lifestyle on pain and healing

• Why he built his pricing model around accessibility—with the single mother of three in mind

To learn more about Zev and his work, follow him on all platforms @drzevtv.